COVID-19 lockdowns and changes in loneliness among young people in the U.K.

Kung, Claryn S. J.; Kunz, Johannes; Shields, Michael A.

doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.115692

Cited by 13 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 26 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In line with previous research in the general population, we found that being female, older, and living in a more deprived area was associated with following higher loneliness trajectories. 8 , 12 , 26 , 44–48 A positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test was associated with lower odds of being in the high and medium loneliness trajectories (compared to the low loneliness class), which is counter to what might be expected from social behaviors and cognitive processes commonly associated with sickness. 49 In fact, recent analyses of retrospective loneliness data in the CLoCk study found testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 was associated with increased loneliness from pre-pandemic levels to the time of study enrollment (McOwat K, personal communication, October 16, 2023).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 77%

“…This finding differs from previous reports that loneliness in 16–24 years old individuals in the UK tracked closely with restrictions at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and returned to pre-pandemic levels by September 2021. 44 However, comparisons are limited due to the different age groups examined, measures of loneliness used, and methods employed. For example, the former study examined loneliness using responses to a single item in 16–24-year-olds assuming no subgroups exist that experience different trajectories of loneliness.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Loneliness Trajectories, Associated Factors and Subsequent Health in Children and Young People During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A National Matched Cohort Study

Schneider,

Norris,

Nugawela

et al. 2023

PRBM

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Purpose Loneliness is common amongst children and young people (CYP) and is an independent risk factor for poor health. This study aimed to i) determine whether subgroups of CYP with different loneliness trajectories (during the second year of the pandemic) exist; ii) examine associations with socio-demographic characteristics and subsequent health; and iii) understand whether associations between loneliness and subsequent health were modified by SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods A total of 5851 CYP (N=3260 SARS-CoV-2 positive and 2591 SARS-CoV-2 negative) provided data on loneliness (via the validated 3-item version of the UCLA Loneliness Scale for Children) at least twice in a 12-month period post PCR index-testing (conducted October 2020-March 2021). Latent class growth analyses were used to identify distinct classes of loneliness trajectories. Multinomial logistic regression was used to identify socio-demographic characteristics associated with class membership. Logistic regression models assessed the odds of reporting impairing symptoms 12-months post index-test. Results Four distinct loneliness trajectories were identified: three mostly stable (low, medium, high) and one low-increasing trajectory. Being older, female, living in more deprived areas and testing negative were associated with greater odds of being in the highest vs lowest loneliness trajectory; eg OR for female vs male: 5.6 (95% CI:4.1,7.8); OR for 15–17 vs 11–14 years: 4.5 (95% CI:3.4,6.0). Following higher loneliness trajectories was associated with higher odds of experiencing impairing symptoms 12-months post index-test: OR adjusted (compared to lowest loneliness trajectory) were 15.9 (95% CI:11.9,21.3) (high loneliness), 6.5 (5.3,7.9) (medium loneliness) and 2.3 (1.9,2.8) (low-increasing loneliness). There was no evidence that this association was modified by PCR index-test result. Conclusion About 5.3% of CYP were classified into a group experiencing (chronically) high loneliness. Being female, older and from more deprived areas were risk factors of belonging to this group. Results suggest that even small increases from low loneliness levels may be associated with worse health outcomes.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 77%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Loneliness Trajectories, Associated Factors and Subsequent Health in Children and Young People During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A National Matched Cohort Study

Schneider,

Norris,

Nugawela

et al. 2023

PRBM

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Also, people were less likely to adhere to distancing guidelines during periods with fewer Covid hospitalizations, likely because they perceived being close to others as less risky, underscoring the relevance of communicating the reason for behavioral guidelines even during more lenient periods of the pandemic. Moreover, especially for younger people, the importance of social contact for their development and well-being may surpass their motivation to adhere to distancing guidelines [ 4 , 13 , 26 ]. For future pandemic preparedness, it is therefore also key to accommodate young people to safely meet even in times of high pandemic severity or lockdowns, for instance by ensuring easy access to reliable (self-)tests and venues to meet safely.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Similarly, social groups may have varied in how strongly social factors such as the need for social contact affected their distancing behavior. It is likely that groups with a higher need for social contact, such as people who lived alone and young people (for whom Covid-19 was also perceived as less dangerous) [ 13 ], were less motivated to physically distance in social situations with friends or close relatives [ 11 , 14 ]. To gain a better understanding of sociodemographic differences in distancing behavior, we also ask: how were sociodemographic characteristics associated with physical distancing behavior in different situations?…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Context Matters: Patterns in Physical Distancing Behavior Across Situations and Over Time During the Covid-19 Pandemic in the Netherlands

Bussemakers,

van Dijk,

van den Putte

et al. 2023

Annals of Behavioral Medicine

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Physical distancing is an effective preventative measure during respiratory infectious disease outbreaks. Prior studies on distancing behaviors have largely ignored context characteristics (physical, social) and time. Purpose We investigated patterns in physical distancing over time and across situations, as well as sociodemographic variation herein. Methods We employed data from five rounds of a cohort study conducted throughout the pandemic by the Dutch public health institute (RIVM; N ≈ 50.000 per round). We conducted Latent Class Analyses to investigate patterns of physical distancing in a range of situations, followed by regression models to investigate associations between distancing behavior and sociodemographic and context characteristics. Results Participants differed in their general tendency to adhere to distancing guidelines across situations, but there were also substantial differences in distancing behavior between situations, particularly at work, with friends and family and outdoors. Distancing at work was strongly associated with work environment characteristics. Younger age groups reported less distancing behavior, particularly with close relations (friends or family) and at work. In periods when the pandemic situation was most severe, people adhered more strongly to distancing guidelines and age differences were most pronounced during these periods. Conclusions Physical and social context matters for physical distancing, highlighting the importance of developing strategies for pandemic preparedness that improve opportunities for physical distancing (e.g., reducing crowding, one-way traffic) and accommodate young people to safely meet even in times of high pandemic severity and lockdowns. Future studies should account for the physical and social context in which distancing behavior is observed.

show abstract

“…Another aspect of young people’s lives that has been strongly affected by COVID-19 measures is their friendships [ 25 , 27 , 29 , 60 , 74 ]. In our study, young people expressed concerns about the future regarding their social relationships.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Young People and the Future: School Students’ Concerns and Hopes for the Future after One Year of COVID-19 in Austria—Findings of a Mixed-Methods Pilot Study

Fehkührer,

Humer,

Kaltschik

et al. 2023

Healthcare

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in enormous changes in everyday life and numerous burdens for adolescents. This pilot study focused on how young people look to the future in the face of these burdens. Responses to two open-ended questions on concerns and hopes for the future that were part of a larger online survey on the mental health of school students in Austria were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Subsequently, differences in the experiences of boys and girls, young people with and without a migration background and psychologically stressed and non-stressed young people were examined by applying a mixed-methods approach. Data collection took place from 3 February to 28 February 2021. From a total survey sample of 3052 adolescents aged 14–20, a representative sample according to gender and migration background (N = 500) was drawn. Qualitative content analysis revealed several areas of concern about the future, including school-related concerns, concerns about the further development of the pandemic and the associated restrictions, concerns related to a lack of locus of control, health-related concerns and concerns about social relationships. The analysis also indicated young people’s greatest hopes for the future, such as hopes related to further pandemic development, hopes regarding major life goals, school, social relationships and health. Young people’s experiences differ according to gender, migration background and the extent of psychological distress. This study contributes to research on the psychological well-being of adolescents during the pandemic and provides important insights into the subjective experience of young people. It aims to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the concerns and hopes for the future of young people in a time marked by various challenges. The results of the study should be used to develop ideas for measures, such as the expansion of school psychological services and low-threshold support services for students, such as school social work and counseling.

show abstract

COVID-19 lockdowns and changes in loneliness among young people in the U.K.

Cited by 13 publications

References 26 publications

Loneliness Trajectories, Associated Factors and Subsequent Health in Children and Young People During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A National Matched Cohort Study

Loneliness Trajectories, Associated Factors and Subsequent Health in Children and Young People During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A National Matched Cohort Study

Context Matters: Patterns in Physical Distancing Behavior Across Situations and Over Time During the Covid-19 Pandemic in the Netherlands

Young People and the Future: School Students’ Concerns and Hopes for the Future after One Year of COVID-19 in Austria—Findings of a Mixed-Methods Pilot Study

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About